WITH the Christmas pantomime spirit in full swing this year, it would be a tragedy not to catch up with one of Southport’s stars of the show – Ian ‘H’ Watkins.

Ian, who shot to fame in the late 90s with legendary pop band Steps, took some time out from rehearsing Jack and The Beanstalk and spoke to the Visiter about the upcoming panto, life after Steps, his controversial Big Brother experience, and, believe it or not, being compared to a serial killer.

Dressed casually and as friendly as ever, he spoke of his excitement about his role as Silly Billy on the Southport Theatre stage.

He says: “The rehearsals are going really well so far. Usually for a West End show you’d have three or four weeks, but we’ve only got one week. I’m a bit of a swot to be honest. I always like to know my lines before so I’m totally prepared.

“I’ve done loads of pantos before, I absolutely love it. Doing plays are my favourite thing to do, and panto is just like one big play. They should be of great quality, they should be honest, and of course entertaining.

“Usually you’re giving children their first experience of the theatre, so you should take pride in the job, and give the audience a great night.”

A keen performer from a young age, the Welsh entertainer’s first taste of the limelight began when he spent his teenage years performing with Spotlight Theatre Company, later becoming the company’s president.

Speaking of the achievement, Ian said: “That was one of the proudest moments in my life, I felt so honoured when they asked me. I felt I could give something back to the company that helped me achieve my dream.

“I often go around colleges and do workshops, answer any questions and teach classic Steps routines. I think it really helps the kids. I’m a huge Take That fan and if one of them had come into my college when I was younger I would have absolutely loved it!”

Ian also co-hosted Steps’ own TV talent show- ‘Steps to the Stars’, which aired in 2000 and discovered young budding performers such as Danny Jones from McFly, Gareth Gates and Joss Stone. However, the reality talent shows likes of the X Factor aren’t his cup of tea.

He said: “The X Factor is brilliant for giving people a showbusiness opportunity but it can also be a very grey area.

“Although there’s a lot of talent, at the end of the day the show is designed for television, which can sometimes deflect from the talent of the contestants. A lot of the time it’s just there to create headlines.

“Simon Cowell knows what he’s doing. He’s a very clever man.”

The star had first hand experience of a reality TV show, after being a housemate during Celebrity Big Brother’s most controversial year in January 2007.

The series attracted the largest ever number of public complaints to OFCOM after concerns that housemate and close friend of Ian, Shilpa Shetty, had been the victim of racist bullying by fellow housemate Jade Goody.

The allegations sparked a national outcry, and furious demonstrations in India.

Looking back on his time in the house, Ian said: “There was a lot of controversy that year.

“But one good thing that came from the experience is mine and Shilpa’s friendship.

“She’s an amazing woman and one of my dearest friends, I feel very fortunate to have her in my life.”

Celebrity Big Brother was grounds for another proud moment in his life.

After finishing in fourth place and being the first contestant that series to be cheered by the waiting crowd, Ian felt his main reason for going onto the show was achieved when presenter Davina McCall said that he “entered the house as H, and left as Ian.”

He said: “That was my main aim when I decided to do Celebrity Big Brother.

“I would never disrespect anything I did when I was with Steps, but when she said that I felt that I had gained respect for being myself, and for having my own career outside of the band.”

The controversy from Celebrity Big Brother followed Ian when he presented a documentary about growing up gay in Wales.

The Only Gay in the Village aired on BBC Wales in March 2008 and investigated changing attitudes to homosexuality.

While filming, he was left “absolutely flabbergasted” when he was told by Christian Voice director, Stephen Green, that his lifestyle was “sinful”, and being gay made him no better than US mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer.

After Ian told the fundamentalist campaigner that he was “completely happy” being gay and that he was in a loving relationship, he reacted: “Dahmer was happy murdering people, does that make it right?”, adding later: “Sin is sin... in the eyes of God, sin is sin...”

Ian added: “Fortunately, that was a minority. I think attitudes have changed a lot recently, and any young people who are finding it difficult to accept who they are will hopefully find that there’s a great amount of support and organisations out there to help them get through it.”

Before returning to the busy rehearsals, of course the inevitable question had to be asked.

“I’d never say never to a Steps reunion. Of course, it would have to be the right time for all of us” he smiled, “who knows?”

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